IndieTalks is a independent music industry discussion and salon event, conceived by too many fireworks and partnered with Radio Kampus, that takes place 4 times a year in the Pardon, To Tu club in Warsaw. Each event has an over-arching topic and features an “indietalk” by an industry figure elaborating on an idea or concept they’d like to share; a panel discussion involving several other guests relevant to our topic; and an audience workshop to get attendees talking, collaborating and working together. The event is for both industry figures, and for music fans interested in how things happen.

Our first event was themed “Do it yourself: How to make a scene?” and we looked at how to build a community through organising concerts and developing groups of like-minded souls.

IndieTalk

Sean Palmer – Gathering Voices

Sean Palmer is an English independent artist working across various fields including film and music. He is an actor in both film and theatre, a television narrator, and the frontman in Warsaw’s psychedelic-rock band The White Kites. Since 2010 he has been the artistic director and founder of the experimental choir, Gre Bedanie. Sean delivered the inaugural IndieTalk and spun a story taking us through his acting on Doctor Who, through to building a small community of singers and performers around his experimental choir.

Panel Discussion

First steps: from an idea to creating a scene

In our first panel, our guests – all music promoters – discussed the challenges encountered, the methods used, the paths trodden, and the successes had as they began creating their events and how they built small scenes around their shows – and how others might follow in their footsteps.

Our guests for IndieTalks #1

Łukasz Kasperek

Łukasz is the founder of the Warsaw City Rockers collective and has been active on the Warsaw music scene since 2005. He often DJs at his and other events. He has written for several publications and currently writes a column in a parenting magazine.

Mateusz Romanowski

Mateusz is a prolific concert booker at the Warsaw venue, Chmury. He plays in several bands including The Spouds, Brooks Was Here, and Melissa. Aside from music he occasionally writes for Codziennik Feministyczny, lewica.pl, strajk.eu or VICE.

Michał Wieczorek

Michał is a mainstay on the Warsaw music scene and is often found moderating such panels. He is a music editor for M/I magazine and the Uwolnij Muzykę! website, while also having his own music blog, “Na obrzeżach”.

Agata Wnuk

Since early 2005, Agatha has been one half of the all female DJ duo, Damsels in Distress. Together, with her partner-in-crime, Ola Kaminska, she organises the Girls to the Front! events promoting the presence of girls on the Warsaw music scene. In December, the girls released the first issue of their zine of the same name.

Anna Wysocka

Since the beginning of 2014, Ania has been the curator of the Warsaw chapter of Sofar sounds, the international music movement inviting artists to perform small, intimate concerts in houses, and unusual places. At the time of writing, they have showcased over 50 artists.

Photos

Videos

The videos from the event will be available in April. Check back then to watch Sean’s talk and the panel discussion